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    CES 2025: What to expect and how to watch

    Jason Hiner/ZDNETWith CES upon us, you have probably seen countless mentions of the conference from any tech news outlet or company you follow. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or consumer, the show is guaranteed to feature something you care about — be it the launch of a new tech product or feature or the demo of some visionary technology with the potential to change the future.Also: ZDNET joins CNET Group to award the Best of CES, and you can submit your entry nowWant to keep up with the conference’s latest and hottest news? ZDNET will have a team on the ground bringing you the latest announcements during the show, so you don’t miss a thing. Here’s everything you need to know about CES 2025.What is CES? The Consumer Electronics Show, also known as CES for short, is an industry tradeshow that features the biggest tech players from across the globe who will showcase their latest consumer technology with daily product launches, keynotes, activations, and demos. The annual event, which has found a permanent home at the Las Vegas Convention Center and other nearby hotels, has been taking place for decades, becoming a staple in the tech community. More

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    How IBM’s blueprint for industry transformation leverages AI, 5G, and collaboration

    Priya Kurien, the client strategy and innovation leader of global industries at IBM. IBM Priya Kurien, the client strategy and innovation leader of global industries at IBM, has a fascinating job working with C-suite and senior leaders for IBM’s clients across the world, helping them to leverage IBM’s technology, particularly with AI. In this interview, […] More

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    Siri’s secret recordings lead to a $95 million settlement. Could you get a share?

    Maria Diaz/ZDNETApple has settled a class action lawsuit in which tens of millions of users can expect a slice of the payout.Also: The first open-source, privacy-focused voice assistant for the home is hereOn Tuesday, the iPhone maker agreed to pay $95 million to settle a 2019 lawsuit claiming that Siri violated the privacy of Apple users by recording their conversations, as reported by Reuters.Lopez v. Apple, Inc.Known as Lopez v. Apple, Inc., the class action lawsuit was filed by three plaintiffs who alleged that Apple programmed Siri to intercept conversations even when no hot word, such as “Hey Siri,” was spoken. Further, the plaintiffs claimed that Apple violated their privacy by sharing recordings of the conversations with third-party contractors.Specifically, two of the plaintiffs said that mentioning Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden restaurants prompted ads for both products. The third plaintiff said he received ads for a surgical treatment after discussing it privately with his doctor.In settling the suit, Apple has denied any wrongdoing on its part. Before the plaintiffs and Apple users can receive their slice of the payout, the settlement must be approved by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in the Oakland, Calif., federal court. More

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    How to transform your doodles into stunning graphics with Apple’s Image Wand

    Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNETI’m not much of an artist. When I try to draw an image on my iPhone or iPad, the result often looks like something created by a two-year-old. That’s why I like Apple’s new Image Wand. Part of the AI-powered Apple Intelligence, Image Wand will transform your rough sketches into high-quality imagesSupporting only the Apple Notes app for now, Image Wand also can use AI to modify existing images, conjure up an image from empty space, and convert text into an image. You’re even able to choose a specific style for your image: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. To create the initial image, you can use your finger or a stylus like the Apple Pencil.Also: Apple Pencil Pro vs. Apple Pencil 2: Which model you should buy for your iPadIf you’re like me, the drawings you create may look as if if they were produced by a child. Or you can simply use a drawing done by a real kid on an iPhone or iPad. Your child might then enjoy seeing their sketches come to life.The only limitation is that you need the right type of device. That means an iPhone 16, an iPhone 15 Pro, an iPhone 15 Pro Max, any iPad model with an M1 or later chip, or an iPad mini with an A17 Pro chip. You’ll also need iOS/iPadOS 18.2.Let’s see how this works.How to use Apple’s Image Wand to create high-quality images More

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    The best smartwatches of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

    With advanced features such as voice assistants, crash detection, call and text support, and long battery lives, modern smartwatches are far more than just an accessory. And thanks to powerful sensors and extensive app suites, they’ve become one of the most popular health and fitness trackers, too. At ZDNET, we’ve tested all of the best smartwatches on the market, testing their battery life, durability, features, and more. We also interviewed athletes, fitness experts, and medical professionals to ask what features they loved most about their smartwatches to help you get a better idea of the top health and fitness tracking features, too.Also: The best Garmin watches: Expert tested What is the best smartwatch right now? Based on our extensive hands-on testing and insights from experts, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 More

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    Apple Vision Pro’s killer feature is finally here – and made my $3,500 investment more worth it

    Jason Hiner/ZDNETI’ve been waiting to test the promised wide and ultra-wide screen monitor features of Apple’s VisionOS 2.2 since the Vision Pro first shipped back in February 2024. When the Release Candidate became available, I rushed to install it on my head-mounted headache generator.In this article, I’ll be exploring VisionOS’s Mac virtual display capabilities, testing the standard display, wide display, and ultrawide display variants, and comparing them to my current physical widescreen setup. This new capability could be a game-changer for the Vision Pro. Also: Just installed iOS 18.2? I’d change these 4 iPhone settings for the best experienceI have no real idea how I’m going to demonstrate this to you. VisionOS is limited when it comes to screenshots and video captures, and trying to demonstrate an ultra-wide screen monitor in a tiny little screenshot window seems like a fool’s errand. So you’ll have to let me paint a picture of this experience primarily through words. The few screenshots I’m going to show you, as usual for the Vision Pro, don’t do justice to the experience. And with that, let’s dig in. Table stakes I decided to treat this test like a monitor review. I am a bit of a monster about my monitors because they are so key to my productivity. The configuration of my current “main machine” is a 38-inch LG 38WR85QC-W More